How Ruud reacted to a big night at Old Trafford

Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted football can be a cruel game sometimes after Manchester United enjoyed some luck in front of goal to comfortably see off Leicester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

The Reds won 5-2 as Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes both bagged doubles and Alejandro Garnacho also found the net.

It was an enjoyable occasion at Old Trafford and van Nistelrooy clearly relished a night to remember but admitted clearer chances were created, and missed, during the latter part of Erik ten Hag’s reign.

Speaking to the official broadcasters, here are some of his comments…

SUPERB SUPPORT

“In the days leading up to this, it was with mixed feelings. Of course, I was sad to see Erik [ten Hag] go. He was the one that got me here. It was sad to see him leave but he’s leaving the club with two trophies and can have his head held high. Of course, matchday comes and 75,000 fans are here and they support the team. They supported me in an unbelievable way.”

UNITED WILL NEVER STOP

“As coaching staff, we prepared the players and I have to say they were fantastic today. Credit to the team, they pulled off a great performance today, after difficult moments. On the day it got announced, it was difficult for them and every one of us. Of course, when you have the manager is going, for us, as staff as well, so to react and play like this, it was a great achievement of the players. We promised to fight for the 75,000 fans and the millions at home watching and supporting United. For them, we wanted to show up, show this club is building and continuing to fight and never stop. That’s what it is about.”

BRUNO BREAKS SEASON DUCK IN STYLE

“You know, with his qualities, we knew he just needed some luck to get the goals going and then they will come with many. I’m delighted for him. He’s leading the team through many, many difficult phases and he’s fantastic to have around.”

A CRUEL GAME

“I have to say the chances we created against Fenerbahce and West Ham, also I remember at Crystal Palace, we created so many bigger, better chances than today. We had the luck with the post and the deflection. Sometimes, it’s what you need. It makes football a cruel game sometimes. As I said, we created much better and bigger chances in past games than today so, hopefully, the luck has turned today and we can build on this victory.”

ENJOYING THE GOALS

“We scored some great goals. The first one was an absolute beauty from Casemiro. I just enjoyed the moment, as it was in the top corner, and an amazing goal. He’s an amazing person and player and it’s fantastic to have him around. Garnacho’s was a very good finish, from Diogo Dalot’s cross. I think the crowd goes home after a nice night of football.”

THE FUTURE?

“I came here as an assistant, to help the club, and now in this role, I’m helping as long as I’m needed. In the future, in any capacity, I am here to help the club further, to build towards the future. There are so many people around me who want the best for the club and that will never change. I think it’s important to focus on Sunday, and the league game against Chelsea. What the future holds, let’s wait on that.”

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Ruud: Casemiro is an example to us all

Ruud van Nistelrooy was delighted with his team after they ran out 5-2 winners in his first game in interim charge, against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

Both Casemiro and captain Bruno Fernandes scored a brace while Alejandro Garnacho also found the back of the net. Although Bilal El Khannous and Conor Coady scored to keep the Foxes within touching distance, United were always in control.

Casemiro opened the scoring 15 minutes in with a 25-yard rocket of a strike that flew in off the underside of the bar. As the players wheeled away in celebration, the boss celebrated wildly on the touchline.

“The first goal was an unbelievable, top goal – fantastic finish,” he told MUTV after the game.

Van Nistelrooy, who was assistant manager under Erik ten Hag, explained what the goal meant to the Brazilian and to him, having been impressed by his work ethic in training.

“I’m delighted for him that the first goal went in,” he added. “I was delighted for Case, the way he’s been training and helping the team and the club, he’s such an example. You also see the crowd’s reaction and they also know what he’s about.” 

Our no. 18 has had his fair share of criticism, particularly after the defeat to Liverpool, but nobody can ever doubt his quality.

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Manchester United advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a entertaining victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford.

Our prize for the 5-2 triumph in M16 is a last-eight tie against Tottenham Hotspur away from home in December, which will be played on a date to be confirmed in the capital, when we’ll compete for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes largely stole the headlines on Wednesday, as the midfield pair grabbed a brace apiece, rivalling one another not only for our Man of the Match award, but goal of the night too.

Our no.18 opened the scoring with a sumptuous long-range strike after 16 minutes, while Fernandes rounded it off in the second half, effortlessly going past goalkeeper Danny Ward to smash home in front of the Stretford End.

And, although there were a number of other impressive performers on the night for the Reds, under the interim charge of Ruud van Nistelrooy, it was, indeed, Casemiro and Fernandes who dominated the voting in our Man of the Match poll.

Keep reading to find out who fans selected as their stand-out performer from a successful night at the Theatre of Dreams…

Casemiro proved to be the runaway winner of our poll with a 69 per cent share of the vote among fans casting their selection in the United App and on ManUtd.com.

It was perhaps no surprise given the Brazilian’s particular penchant for the spectacular this evening – evidenced with his wonderful 16th-minute strike, which kissed the underside of the crossbar on its way in to get the Old Trafford crowd on its feet.

The Brazilian was unfortunate to hit the post later in the half, when he headed against the woodwork, but responded in perfect fashion, immediately pouncing on a loose ball in the box to slam in his second and our fourth of the night.

He could have a third before the half-time break too, when he again nodded dangerously towards goal, but this time saw his header agonisingly inch past the post.

Our no.18 was stylish with his passing after the break as he dropped deeper, notably playing in Fernandes for one opportunity, when the Portuguese watched his team-mate’s pass over his shoulder, and shot just over with a well-struck volley.

The Brazilian has now scored an impressive seven goals for United in domestic cup competitions, bettering his tally of six in Premier League outings.

Also the goalscorer of a brace, Fernandes was second in the voting – earning the recognition of 21 per cent of fans participating in our poll.

Having cleverly dummied the ball for Casemiro’s opener in the first half, Fernandes perhaps caught the eye more in the second – albeit, having found the net for the first time this season in the opening 45 minutes, when his free-kick from 20 yards was helped in by a deflection.

His second goal of the night – the only one from either side in the second half – oozed class, when he took the ball around the goalkeeper with a quick turn on the ball to ensure he had the goal at his mercy, making no mistake with the finish.

The orchestrator for much of our positive play, Bruno looked at his best against the Foxes, with the Reds unfortunate not to extend our lead further as the half wore on.

While our fine attacking play came as a result of an impressive unit at the core of our frontline, it was to be expected that Casemiro and Fernandes were at the forefront of fans voting in our poll.

Congratulations to Casemiro on winning our award, and of course to the Reds, as our Carabao Cup campaign is set to run on for at least another round longer.

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U21s match summary: United 1 PSV Eindhoven 1

Manchester United’s Under-21s earned a point thanks to a late Gabriele Biancheri penalty after going a goal behind to PSV Eindhoven in the Premier League International Cup.

The Reds started the game off well, enjoying more possession than the visitors, and having the first shot with Chido Obi-Martin linking up well with Ethan Ennis, whose shot was just wide.

Travis Binnion’s side were pressing well but the visitors grew into this game. With under 10 minutes gone, keeper Dermot Mee was tested for the first time but he got down well and managed to hold onto the ball when the shot came in. Moments later, he was alert to the danger of another PSV attack and raced out of his area to clear, booting the ball up the field.

However, United were coming under increasing pressure and, just under a quarter of an hour into the tie, it paid off for PSV. Mee tried to make a clearance but could only find Isaac Babadi. He took the shot first time, and expertly found the inviting target.

The hosts tried to respond with Ethan Williams making a good run but he was muscled off the ball and the attack fizzled out. On the stroke of half-time, PSV had an opportunity to double their lead but Mee made a great save from close range to keep the Reds in it.

United started the second half brightly, again dominating possession in the opening stages. However, when PSV got the ball their attacking force looked threatening and captain Tyler Fredricson was required to make a goalline clearance to keep the deficit at one.

As PSV came forward again, Mee tipped over a shot that looked to be dipping under the crossbar to make another vital intervention.

Binnion introduced a host of changes that injected energy into his team and the Reds had a few chances. As we entered the last 10 minutes, James Scanlon found space on the edge of the area but his tame shot was safely caught by the keeper.

Zach Baumann also had a chance as he received the ball and turned inside the area but his shot took a deflection into the side-netting.

PSV had defended well but, when Biancheri was brought down in the box in the dying stages of the game, the referee awarded a penalty. It was Biancheri who stepped up to take it, smashing it into the roof of the net to make it 1-1. It had been coming and was only what the Reds deserved – making it two draws out of two games in the competition this term.

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The departure of goalkeeping superstar Mary Earps was headline news from United Women’s summer transfer window. Voted the best goalkeeper in the world for the past two seasons, Earps has been a trailblazer for the women’s game in this country, and hugely popular due to her heroics for the England national team.

So pressure was inevitably due to fall on her replacement, as Marc Skinner’s side set out on the 2024/25 season with a clear remit of reclaiming one of the Women’s Super League’s Champions League spots, following a fifth-placed finish last term.

Ahead of the season’s start, Skinner made it clear that American stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, signed from Seattle club OL Reign in 2023, would step into Earps’ shoes. And, put simply, it’s fair to say that the 28-year-old has made a near-flawless start to her first campaign as the Reds’ undisputed first-choice goalkeeper…

Don’t miss Phallon’s incredible efforts against Brighton in this highlights package.

Stand-out moment

The 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion was arguably the low point of United Women’s season so far; it marked the first game in which Skinner’s side had failed to claim victory. Tullis-Joyce could have been forgiven a few flashes of her own personal irritation, too. Nikita Parris’s equaliser was the first goal she had conceded.

But Phallon was arguably the Reds’ outstanding performer in Sussex, and made a particularly phenomenal save that will live long in the memory, diving quickly to her right to deny Madison Haley what seemed a certain goal. The American was required throughout to keep a peppy Brighton side at bay and, but for her solidity, our one point might well have withered to zero.

As for Parris’s header, there could be no blame attached to the goalkeeper. The former United forward was just yards out when she instinctively managed to connect a diving header to an already rocketing cross-cum-shot from Maisie Symonds. But another great save, from a Fran Kirby long-ranger in the final stages, further embellished Tullis-Joyce’s credentials as the game’s outstanding figure.

It’s helped give a new-look United squad a solid start to a season that will undoubtedly prove a challenging one, given the increasingly competitive field battling it out at the top of the WSL.

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Phallon said

“I’ve been a little bit of a late bloomer for a goalkeeper,” reflected the Long Islander recently. “Maybe on paper my progress looks a little slower, but you can still have your time. I still believe that no matter what age you are, you can still grow. I’m still learning plenty of new things.

“I want to show my communication skills and just own it. I want to be a strong force at the back. No matter what happens, I want my team-mates to know I’m there for them.

“Everyone knows every goalkeeper has a sprinkling of craziness, so we all have our own sort. I just want my presence to be known. I want to show things that maybe people haven’t seen before.”

So far, our new stopper supreme is more than making good on those positive words.

The boss said

Ahead of the start of the new season, Marc Skinner spoke confidently about Phallon stepping into the role vacated by the popular Earps. “Phallon is the best shot-stopper I have ever worked with in my life,” he eulogised. “She is an incredible footballer, an incredibly intelligent human and I’m really looking forward to showing you what she can do for this team. She is a big-time goalkeeper. That’s why I brought her.” 

After the impressive 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier in October – which included some spells of severe pressure on United’s goal, despite the final scoreline – the boss also hinted that Tullis-Joyce is surging in confidence. “I said to her at the end that she took a massive step forward again today. She is incrementally getting better every week. We were incredibly lucky to have Mary Earps, but are lucky to have Tullis-Joyce.”

Did you know?

Tullis-Joyce (along with Andre Onana) was awarded the PFA’s Community Champion award last season, for her ongoing support of Manchester United Foundation. The American – who has a degree in marine biology – visited high schools in Levenshulme and Stretford, and gave passionate presentations on marine life, even helping students made cuttlefish from clay. 

“I’ve had a great time being with the community and helping out in any way I can,” she beamed. “I just love shedding any kind of light on how awesome our oceans are, and at the school the kids were incredible and loved learning too. I think it’s super important to be a part of our community, especially as professional athletes. So many people helped me along the way and this is my way of giving a little bit back and all that I’ve learned and that’s been passed and shared with me. Passing that on to future generations is what I’d like to do.”

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